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Spicy
Pumpkin-Coriander Soup

I
created this soup in early October in honour of Autumn.Thisspicy and tartsoup is quick and easy as a light first course for Autumn or Winter.The perfect prelude to a fruity main course such as Thyme
Pork Chops (or turkey) topped with grilled peach slices and sautéed apple dice,
green beans and russet (red)potatoes!Or serve with a hearty whole grain bread with a side dish of cooked
lentils and spinach garnished with chopped boiled eggfor a wholesome vegetarian meal.

Cut
the pumpkin into manageable wedges, pare and discard seeds and fibre.Cut pumpkin into small pieces.Chop onion and garlic coarsely.Melt the butter in a large pot and sauté the pumpkin, onion and garlic
together for 5 minutes.Add the white wine and allow to simmer for a few minutes.Add the broth.

Grate
the fresh ginger (discard fibre).Grind
the coriander seed and sauté with the ginger and the chilli in a little oil for
several minutes over medium heat.Stir
constantly, adding a little water if necessary to prevent burning or sticking.Add to the pumpkin.Stir and
cover.Bring to the boil, lower heat and allow to simmer for 15
minutes.

Add
the salt and the pepper.Puree (a
submersion blender is perfect for this) until smooth and add the balsamic
vinegar.

Serve
in deep plates with a decorative drizzle of evaporated milk or cream and garnish
generously with chopped coriander leaves.

*Note:I use an old electric coffee mill for grinding my spices.Look for coriander seeds in large supermarkets or a health food shop.If you cannot grind the whole coriander seed, then increase
to 1-1/2 tablespoon of purchased ground as this will be weaker.Substitute 2 teaspoons of dry ginger if the fresh is not available.Use minced parsley if the fresh coriander leaves are not available.With these substitutions, the flavour will be noticeably different, but
also very good!What to do with the
leftover fresh ginger?Use it in Asian dishes, make teas and read my article on the
many health benefits of ginger in the Epicurean Digest (www.epicureandigest.com)!

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recipes are excerpts from "Welcome to My Kitchen" - The
Epicurean Table and are copyright of the author. Recipes are
not to be added
to any form of archive or other works of any kind. Contact the
author for further information.